FWD: from jimmie toad turner
(via joan snyder's "shake rattle and roll" event last weekend)

hi all

my heartfelt thanks to toad for sharing with us

my only kwibble with his komments?

pd is not my "enemy"

with friends like these
i realize that i have no enemies at all

much love

janet

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07-05-03 Parky Love

Well, it’s been a week now since the 2003, Shake, Rattle, & Roll, fund
raiser. It was organized by Joan Snyder, & friends, along with the
Parkinson’s Alliance.

I was going to try writing a detailed report, including names. Instead I’ll
try & share the essence of what I felt & the benefits received from sharing
“Parky Love.” I’m afraid of forgetting & omitting names. Besides, some acts
of love were meant to be anonymous.

I saw sharing of blessings; financial, spiritual, emotional, & physical.
People going out of their own comfort zone to insure the comfort of others.
Personal gifts that were handmade, traded for tears & hugs. Oh, hugs were
in abundance. Given & taken freely, seasoned with laughter, or crying,
sometimes both. Parky Love.

Friendships shared by those who possibly would not even talk under other
circumstances. Republicans, Democrats, Liberals, & Red-necks, maybe, but
that weekend they were Parky Warriors. Brought together to fight a common,
hated enemy. Friendships made for a lifetime, or that were previously made
& further cemented over a cool beverage or hot meal. I know I’ve met those
whom are near & dear to my heart, that I would’ve never come in contact
with out of the world of PD. Some, if met on the street, I would’ve turned
away from, but instead the differences were weathered because of our common
bond until finally firm friendships were formed. Parky Love.

The autographed , Muhamed Ali, boxing gloves were won, by raffle, by a
volunteer worker at the “walk.’ This person immediately re-donated them
back to the cause. The gloves were sold by a Parky, that wasn’t even at the
walk, but still wanting to do, “their part.” Parky Love.

I saw scores of volunteers. All responding to the battle cry, led by one
woman. But she would tell you that none of it would be possible without the
endless sacrifices of her family, & loyal friends. But then you meet the
family & your amazed to find, for them, these many obstacles are just
opportunities, to express their obvious love for their mother, daughter,
spouse, or friend! They understand & epitomize the dedicated will that
“gets stuff done.” All who enter that house are enveloped in love. More
than just Parky Love.

As for me, I spent the weekend in a wheelchair, or “crab walking” with my
two canes. I soaked up the love & enjoyed the many friendships in various
stages of development. I reaped many blessings of support, enthusiasm, &
encouragement. Everywhere one looked, there were reminders that I was not
alone. That the S. R. & R. was the culmination of an every day spirit of
not giving in nor up.

I met many for the first time. Turning chat room user names into warm
memories, that now have a future, as well as a past, or here & now. To be
honest, I met some I had forgotten & was grateful for the opportunity for
the renewing, thanks to their forgiving. Then there were the old friends.
Tried & true, purged by fire, still loving me thru my faults, FRIENDS.
Finally there were the friends in waiting. People I had met before, yet I
have regretfully, not developed friendships with. People showing me acts of
friendship that were so unexpected because of my unworthiness. Cookies
baked with love, a custom hat, a box hauled to the airport, a car provided
for transportation, pictures shared, & more. Parky Love.

Parky Love is nothing more than God’s Love, mixed with the adversity of PD,
forming a common bond. A love that can only happen when you seek to give &
share. A giving where receiving is incidental, yet pure & honest. The
Shake, Rattle, & Roll, as lead by Joan’s example, is giving till it hurts,
then giving more. Giving money, time, & love, to beat our common enemy.
Most of all, proving that until that victory, there is love, happiness, &
fulfillment, that’s available & attainable, in spite of PD. That we can
only emerge victorious, by battling adversity. And that there’s few gifts
greater, than a friend who’s proved that friendship at their own expense.

Toad
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janet paterson: an akinetic rigid subtype, albeit primarily perky, parky
pd: 56-41-37 cd: 56-44-43 tel: 613-256-8340 email: [log in to unmask]
my newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/newvoicenews/
my website: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/

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